SMS Viribus Unitis  was an Austro-Hungarian dreadnought battleship, the first of the Tegetthoff class. “Viribus Unitis”, meaning “With United Forces”, was the personal motto of Emperor Franz Joseph I.

Viribus Unitis was ordered by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in 1908 and was laid down in Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard in Trieste on 24 July 1910. Viribus Unitis was launched from the shipyard on 24 June 1911 and was formally commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Navy on 5 December 1912. She spent her early career performing training missions and making trips to foreign ports. In June 1914, she carried Archduke Franz Ferdinand on a trip to Bosnia with his wife Sophie. During his visit to Sarajevo, he was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in the event that caused the beginning of World War I.

There was a time when my attendance at worship service on Sunday morning was a regular convention, more so in particular when I was appointed by the minister of St. Paul’s Anglican Church as Junior Warden. Prior to that appointment when in prep school for example I had literally attended church every day (brief collective service for all boys in the chapel) and twice on Sundays (matins and vespers). Then I read Thomas Paine’s “Age of Reason” (1794) which cemented my already burgeoning infidelity. Never have I recovered from that insight and approbation. Nor may I add do I suffer as a consequence any perceived sense of loss; indeed, my altered conviction regarding the purpose and value of religion and its abuse of power and money has been affirmed in categorical and surprisingly dismissive terms with much the same assessment as a really good but expensive and implausible circus act.

It is easy (or “comfortable” as Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton CC OOnt was wont to say in “The Comfortable Pew“) to endure the spiritual authenticity of religion in light of its uplifting social elements and psychological benefits but the attraction does little if anything to legitimize the underlying theses which themselves vary widely. Or, as Berton points out, “…their Christianity began and ended with the weekly church service“.

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My specific object on this Sabbath was no more soulful than the observance of the projections within my Tide Chart. The Tide Chart indicated that the low tide would occur at 9:21 am today which conveniently suited my anticipated exercise outing. Indeed last evening before retiring I proclaimed that I intended to arise from the virginal lair no later than 8:00 am which by utter coincidence occurred this morning at almost precisely that time. I conducted my ablutions and donned fresh cycling gear which now happily includes a pair of “fat” shorts I have – and comfortably so, more to the point. Plus I chained my wrist in a bit of bling. I discovered years ago upon our first visit to Hilton Head Island that gold displays itself to uncommon advantage when viewed above a background of the fine sandy beach.  The conjunction of the two colours works an ineffable aspect, almost an illumination. Such is the rapacious nature of my Sunday transcendental experience.

H 03:10 AM
L 09:21 AM
H 03:39 PM
L 09:46 PM

My cycle from Sea Pines Beach Club was into the wind.  That makes it tough going with the cruisers we have, one gear. The effort was however one which I not only welcomed but which I willingly embraced. It was apparent that my protuberant abdomen was getting a work out in addition to the usual jabs in the lower limbs and feet. Never was the trifling nature of our activity here more notable than when we subsequently received an email from a mutual friend who curiously suggested to us numerous night clubs and dining places on the Island.  Not only was I offended at the pretence of overtaking our own knowledge of the Island accumulated over 5 years; the recommendations are patently contrary to anything we now or will hereafter undertake. My smugness is seemingly impenetrable; and, as I continue to perfect my curmudgeonly attitude I am commensurately less disposed to tolerate the insinuation.

Riding my bicycle along the receding Atlantic Ocean shore was inexpressibly inspiring. Within my mind I conducted my routine mental housekeeping, first establishing broad limits of importance, then listing the categories from which I have descended or ascended as the case may be, and finally marvelling at the indubitable fortuity of riding a bicycle at my age on a beach in December. I claim no entitlement other than luck. By my summary account I have done everything wrong in life but have clearly managed to surface from the depths, not with moderate success but with providence.

“The old custom was that men of good birth and estate should ride in the train of the Sheriff when he escorted the Judges to the county town: but such a procession could now with difficulty be formed in any part of the kingdom.”

“Hatred of Popery had spread through all classes of his Protestant subjects, and had become the ruling passion even of ploughmen and artisans. But there was another part of his dominions where a very different spirit animated the great body of the population. There was no limit to the number of Roman Catholic soldiers whom the good pay and quarters of England would attract across St. George’s Channel. Tyrconnel had been, during some time, employed in forming out of the peasantry of his country a military force on which his master might depend. Already Papists, of Celtic blood and speech, composed almost the whole army of Ireland. Barillon earnestly and repeatedly advised James to bring over that army for the purpose of coercing the English.”

Excerpt From
The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 2
Thomas Babington Macaulay